Sid Meier's Civilization V Announced

While Sid Meier's attention is currently on the Facebook game Civilization Network, he and his team at Firaxis are also starting development on the next major installment in the classic franchise. Today, 2K Games sent word that Sid Meier’s Civilization V is now in the works for PC. A release timeframe was not provided.

Firaxis said the game will offer "an entirely new combat system, deeper diplomatic interactions and a cavalcade of expanded features that deliver a fully immersive experience providing hours of entertainment as players build and defend their empire on their quest to become the greatest ruler the world has ever known." The game will sport a new engine for a "spectacular visual experience" and it will also feature hexagon tiles "allowing for deeper strategy [and] more realistic gameplay." Firaxis and 2K Games also intend to heavily support Civilization V through the community, offering modding and multiplayer elements.

“Each new version of Civilization presents exciting challenges for our team,” said Sid Meier, director of creative development at Firaxis Games. “Thankfully, ideas on how to bring new and fun experiences to Civ players never seem to stop flowing. From fully animated leaders and realistic landscapes, new combat tactics, expanded diplomacy and shared mods, we’re excited for players to see the new vision our team at Firaxis has brought to the series.”

“Sid Meier’s Civilization franchise has been recognized as one of the greatest PC game franchises of all time with millions of units sold worldwide,” added Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Civilization V takes the franchise further by offering players a more immersive experience with deeper strategies; heightened tactical combat; vast, realistic landscapes to explore, battle over and claim as their own; and an in-game community hub where Civ fans can share content and compete against each other without leaving the game. This marks a new era that will forever change the franchise responsible for sleep deprivation and reduced productivity for nearly two decades.”